Vending machine



Sept. 12, 1933. HI GILES 1,926,847

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed Kay 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .79 6499146) 6/4 55 BY 7/ I I ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1933. H G|| E$ 1,926,847

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIHII'" \HHIIIIIII iii? J9 I INVENTOR 2 ATTORNEY Sept. 12. 1933. H. GILES VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll Ill mum I I 1 I:

ATTORNEY H. GILES VENDING MACHINE Sept. 12, 1933.

Original Filed May 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 YIII'III'IIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR flaw fr 6745s BY ATTORNEY Sept; 12,1933. s ugs 1,926,847

VENDING MACHINE Original Filed May 28, 1931 'SShQQtS-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 f j w s ESTATES PATENT OFFICE ;f1,926,s4 7 V j VENDING iMAOHI NE Harvey GilesgBrooklym'N. Y., assignor to 001- lier Advertising Service, Inc., New a corporation of Delaware York, N. Y.,

' Original application May 28,1931, Serial No. 540,591. Dividedand this application October 4,1932. 1 Serial No. 636,115 1 6 Claims. (01. 312-67) This invention relates to an improvement in I vending machines of the type in which an article is delivered whena coin of proper denomination is deposited in the machine and'a plunger or 5 handle is manipulated. More particularly the invention isan improvement in. a mechanism for closing the delivery opening of such a machine and maintaining such opening in closed condition until the plunger,. which is operated to deliver. the merchandise,reaches a certain position in its movement whereupon it causes theguard jure or abstract surreptitiously the articles which areto be vended in return-for the deposit'in the machine of a proper coin. This object, and other objects, the advantages of which will appear as V the description proceeds, are accomplished in the vending machinehereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in theappended claims. The preferred-embodiment cf the invention, is

illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig; l is a-section taken onthe line 11 of Fi g. 5, and showing in side elevation the left hand side of the operating parts of the machine, the parts heingshown in normal position; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough themiddle of the machine; the section being taken on substantially the line.2- 2 of Fig. 5, the parts being shown in normal or inoperativecondition; Fig. ;3 is a view similar to Fig. -2,=but Withthe upper and lower parts removed, andehowing the article delivery means in engagement with an articleand in the act of pushing it forward; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but withthe article pushed forward into position where it may be obtained .by the purchaser, and showingthe article .deliverymeans freed fromthe article; Fig. 5 is a topplan, partly in section, of the'oper'atin'g parts of the vending machine; Fig. 6 is adetail of the right hand end f Fig. 5 and showingthe partsin section; Fig. '7

is a view similar-to Fig. 6, but with the article. moved forward into'position to be grasped by the purchaser; Fig. 8 is a side elevationofthe guard members, showing their positionswhen a'coin'has been inserted in the machine and the'plunger pulled partly forward; Fig. 9 isa view similar to Fig. 8,: but showing the position of the parts when the plunger has been pulled forward to the limit of its outward movement; and Fig. '10 is a detail,

showing the guard member for closing the coin slot when all the articles have been sold.

The improved devices of thepresent invention are particularly adapted for use in connection with the vending of. a, large number of different kinds of articles, but are more especially adapted for use invending suchrelatively largeand difficultly handled articles 'suchas chocolatealmond bars, or like elongated packages such as gareindicat'ed at inthe drawings. The almond bars or other similar articles 20 are supported in a horizontal position in a vertical hopper comprising two side walls 21and 22 which are inturned at their rear and forward edges so as to hold the articles in place. The lowermost article is supported by the ledges 23 which arethe inturned lower ends ofthe supporting walls 24 which support and strengthen the'lower ends 'of the side walls 21 and 22 of thehcpper. At'their rear ends the ledges 23 are spaced ,apartto' permit the article delivery, means to have access to "the lowermost article to move it forward, but at their forward ends the ledges are connected bya cross piece 25. Thehopper is supported on the upper edges of two walls 26 and 27 of a frame which also supports the operating parts of the vending machine; For this purpose a transversely arranged plate 29 connected to the two ears 30 [which project laterally from the rear ends of the I walls 24 rests in the notches '32 formed in the rear upper edges of the frame walls 26 and 2'7.

The frame walls 26 and 27 are held in fixed rela-.

tion by the cross rods 34, placedat appropriate points Where they will not interfere with the movements of the operating parts, and by the transversebraces 35. Y The hopper, and the frame for supporting the operating parts of the machine are housed within a vertically arranged casing which is of the usual form and construction and comprises the side walls 36, the rear wall 3'7, the front. wall 38 'andthe bottom 39, the top of the casing not'being shown since. it contains no operatingparts. In the frontwall 38 of the casing is'formed an enlargement 40 at 'which-point the articlesare delivered throughtheopening 41 therein, to the purchaser In theupp'erpart of the frontwall 38 of the casing is located the slot 42 through which the coin-is inserted into the machine, and

' in the-lower part of the-front wall 38 of the casing is a slot 53, throughwhich acoin not of proper denomination or a slug is returned to the wouldbe purchaser. The frame walls 26 and 27 for supporting the operating parts of themachine are held in fixed position in the lower part of the casing by means of the bracket 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) on which the forward lower edges of the side frames 26 and 27 rest and by means of the pins 45 projecting forwardly from the rear Wall 37 of the casing and which are engaged by the slotted ears 46 inturned from the rear edges of the frame walls. The frame is prevented against accidental upward displacement by means of a springpressed latch 48 which engages against the upper surface of the uppermost cross-rod 34. When the coin 50 is inserted through the slot 42 it passes into an inclined channel 51 constituting the entrance of a coin chute formed between the relatively heavy outer wall or plate 52 (Fig. 10) supported in upright position by the studs 53 extending inwardly from the upright cars 54 on the frame wall 26, and a relatively thin inner wall 55 the edges of which are inturned and abut against the inner surface of the outer wall 52, to which they are secured at convenient points. The coin chute'is provided with the usual protective devices, such as a magnet, a deflector for spurious coins or slugs and other devices to insure the retention only of proper coins, these devices not being shown since the same form no part of the invention herein claimed. When a coin of proper denomination passes through the coin'chute 51 it descends down through the same and reaches a certain point where it is held in a vertical position until after it has performed the function of putting the'coin deliverymechanism into condition to deliver an article, by means of a guard plate or coin support 72 adjustably secured to an arm 73 pivotedat 74'on a ledge or plate 70.

The article delivery mechanism comprises, in addition to the parts for holding the coin in predetermined vertical position, a reciprocatory plunger 79 having on its outer or forward end a handle 80. The plunger 79 is substantially as long as the lower part of the machine casing is deep and is supported on a horizontally and longitudinally arranged bracket 81 which is slotted at 84 (Fig. 3) throughout its length to ac commodate the guiding screw 82 which passes loosely through the slot and enters the lower side of the rear end of the plunger. The plungeris normally held in its retracted or inoperativeposition by means of a contraction spring 85 one end of which is fastened to the plunger and the other end of which is fixed to a pin 86 projecting inwardly from the frame wall2'7. The spring 85 passes over a guide wheel 87 journalled on a stud 88 projecting inwardly from the framewall The means for engaging the lowermost article 90 of the stack of articles in the hopper and advancing it to a position fromwhich it can be removed from the machine when a coin of proper denomination hasbeen inserted in the machine and theplunger drawnoutwardly, comprises a plate 92, having at its forward end down-turned ears 93 by which it is pivotally connectedwith the. boss 94extending upwardly from about the middle of the upper surface of the plunger. The plate 92' extends rearwardly beyond the articlecontaining hopper and the rear end 95 of the plate 92 is upturned for the purpose of-engaging the rear end of the lowermost article in the hopper and pushing it forwardly. In the normal or inoperative condition of the operating parts of the machine, the rear end of the plate 92 rests against the upper surface of therearend of the plunger 79, as shown in Fig. 2. When it is attempted to pull the plunger 79 outwardly, without first depositing a coin of proper denomination in the machine, the plunger is prevented from moving beyond a certain point by means of a latch lever, not shown, which engages with a notch 101 (Fig. 5) formed in the rear end of the plunger and thereby prevents the plunger from being drawn farther outwardly. But when a coin 50- of proper denomination has been deposited in the machine and it is held in vertical position,

as shown in Fig. 3, the latch lever is, through suitable mechanism, held in such a position that it cannot enter the notch 101 in the plunger, so that the plunger can be drawn outwardly to complete its full forward movement. To prevent the plunger from returning to its rearward normal position before completing its full forward movement, the lower edge of the plunger is provided with the usual rack 104 located in the slot 84 and adapted to be engaged by the dog 109 held in normal position by a spring 110, the lower end of which is connected to a pin 107, fixed in a bracket 108, extending downwardly from the support 81.

While the coin is held in its vertical position, as shown in Fig. 3, and the plunger is being drawn outwardly, an arm connected to the plate 92, but lying on a lower plane than the plate '92 and extending rearwardly parallel with the plate 92, rides up over the top edge of the coin and thereby raises the plate 92 so as to bring the rear upturned edge 95 thereon in line. with the rear end of the lowermost article 90 in the hopper. The middle section of the lower edge of the plate 29 is cut away to permit the up-turned rear end 95 or the plate 92 to be pushed to the rear of the lowermost article 90 in the hopper. When the article 90 has been moved forward into position where it can be removed from the machine by the purchaser, a cam lug carried by the plunger encounters mechanism which frees the coin so that it can fall down into the coin box 77.

The article is not pushed all the way out of the machine by the article-delivery means 92 on the plunger, but is moved sufficiently to cause its forward end to enter a box-like structure or device 117 located under the hood 40 and to. the rear of the opening 41 therein. The device or structure 117 has a central horizontal opening 118 in alignment with the lowermost article 90 in the hopper so that the forward end of the article 90 may enter the opening 118. The full forward movement of the plunger leaves the article with its forward end substantially flush with the forward edge of the device 117, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. Before the article reaches this position, the coin will have descended so that the arm 105 has been permitted to descend and thereby disengage the rear end of theplate 92 from the article. To permit the removal of the article from the machine the front face of the structure 117 is made concaved as clearly shown in Fig. 6 to accommodate the fingers of the purchaser.

While the machine is in normal condition, access to the interior of the machine'through the opening 118 is prevented by the inner guard member 120 and after the plunger has been pulled forward a certain amount and until it reaches its rearmost position, the outer face of the dek. vice 117 is closed by an outer guard member 121. Thus all surreptitious access to the articles to be vended is effectually prevented, both during the normal inoperative condition of the machine and during the. act of delivering an article. The inner guard member 120 is a transversely arranged plate having astrengtheningupper lip' 122. The plat 120 is carried by the forward ends of two arms 123 and 124 pivoted at their rear ends onthepins 125. During the normalcondition of the machine the plate 120 is held. lowered to therear, of .the opening 118 in the revice 117 as shown in Fig. 2by means of a dog 126 pivoted at 127 on a lug 128 extending upwardlyfrom the frame plate 27. The lower end of the dog 126 is notched toengagea'pin 129 extendingoutwardly from, thearm 124. The dog 126 is. held normally; in engagementwith' the pin 129' to keep the plate 120 in fixed position at the rear of. the

opening 118 by means of a tension spring 130. The plate 120 is liftedjon the outward movement of the plunger after a coin .of proper dimension has been inserted in the machine, by means of a cam lug 131 extending,outwardlyfrom avertically arranged plate 132 adjustably carried by the pins 133 and 134 extending laterally from'the rear-endofthe plunger 79 andprojecting through a horizontal slot inthe'plate' 27. The'forward edge of the cam: lug 131 encounters the cam surface 135 toraise theguardplate 120 and the dog 126. is freedfrom the pin 129. by a b1ocir'136, mounted onlthewlug 131, encountering the lower end 137 of the dog.

The outerguard member 121 is normally, held raised above the device 117, as best shown in Fig. 1, since the inner end of the opening 118 is I closed by the innerguard member 120. The outer guard memberlZl is supported on: the forward ends of the two arm-5 138, 139 pivoted at their rear, ends on the pins 125. The arm 139 is provided'with a cam, slot 140 which receives the outwardly extending end 149 of the pin 133. When the parts-of the machine are in normal position, the rear lower-endof the cam slot 140 is engaged by the pin 133 and thereby holds the forward ends of the arms 138 and 139 raised, and with them the outer guard member 121. A contraction spring 152 assists in holding the forward ends of the arms 138 and 139 raised On the outward movement of the plunger after a coin has been inserted in the machine, the pin 149 encounters the inclined-surface 141 of the slot 140 and therebyrlowers the outer guard member 121 and-places it in front of the device 117 in which position it continues until the plunger returns to its normal retracted position. The lifting of the inner guard member 120 from behind the opening 118 and the lowering of the outer guard member 121 in front of the opening 118 are properly timed with respect to each other and to the moving of the said end of the article into the opening 118, the guard member 120 being raised just before the article reaches it and the guard member 121 being lowered before or at the time the guard member 120 is raised. It is thus seen that the guard member 121 remains in front of the opening 118 while the said end of the article enters it andthat access to the article to remove it from the machine cannot be had until after the plunger is released and is permitted to return to normal retracted position.

The operation of the machine is briefly as. followsz-Assuming that a coin of proper dimension has been inserted through the slot 12, it passes through the chute 151 downwardly until it reaches a position where it is held vertically so that when the purchaser pulls the plunger 79 outwardly by means of its handle portion 80,

the plunger is free "to'move outward since the latchlever which'normally enters the notch 101 in the plunger is held out of the way by the coin. The plunger is thus free to be pulled all the way out. On its outward movement the arm 195 of the article-delivery plate 92 encounters and rides up onthe coin 50 asshownin Fig 3, thereby raising the plate 92 and placing the up-turned rear end thereof behind thelowermost article i 90 in the hopper. The continued forward movementof the plunger'pushes the forward end of the article itno the opening 118 of the device 117 until the forward end of the article is substantially flush with the forward edge of the device, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, at which point the coin is freed by suitable mechanismto permit it to .dropinto the coin box 77. During the outward movement of the. plunger and before the forward end of the article'reaches thev inner. end of the opening 118, the forward edge of the cam ledge 131 encounters thecarn surface'135 andraises the inner guard member 120. Just before or at the time the guard member120 is raised, the engage mentof the cam surface 141 of the slot 140, by means of the pin 149, causes the guard member 121 to belowered in front of the opening 113. The guard members continue in this relative position until the plunger has. been pulled all the ,way out and is again moved into retracted position, the inner guard member 120'being releasedfirst, and permitted to drop down upon the upper surface of the article and then the guard memberlzl being raised to permit the purchaser to remove the article. As the article is removed. the inner guard member 120 drops down behind the opening 118 and effectually seals it, the pin 129 beinglowered to permit the notched lower- .146 of a pivoted guard member 147 "and moves the upper end 148 thereof over the coin slot 42, thereby preventing further insertion of coins into the machine. The pivoted guardmember 147 is in an unbalanced condition, and when the arm 146 thereof is released, the member 147 moves to the position shown in Fig. 10, exposing the slot 42. The stop pins. 150 by engagement with the opposite sides of the plate 52 limit the movement of the guard member. v

Having thus described the invention, what I, claim as new is:-

1." In a vending machine of the character described including an article delivery m ans and a reciprocable plunger for controlling the article delivery means, a device having an opening into which one end of an article is moved by the article delivery means, and a guard member controlled by the plunger and moved into position in front of the device on the forward movement of the plunger moving the article into the device, said guard remaining in front of the device until the plunger is returned to normal position, whereby the guard is removed from in front of, the device, thereby exposing the articlefor removal from the device.

2. In a vending machine of the character described including a reciprocable plunger carrying an article delivery means, a device into which the article delivery means advances the forward end of an article to be delivered, an inner guard normally positioned in back of the device, a pivoted arm on' which the inner guard is mounted, an outer guard adapted to be moved in front of the device, but normally out of alinement there with, a pivoted arm on which the outer guard is mounted, each of said two arms having means adapted to be controlled by the plunger for raising the inner guard and for lowering the outer guard.

3. In a vending machine of the character described including a vertically arranged article containing hopper open at its lower end to expose an article to' be delivered, a reciprocable' plunger havingan article delivery member mounted thereon, a device having an opening into which the delivery member advances the forward end of an article, an inner guard member normally positioned behind the opening in the device, a pivoted arm on which the guard member is mounted, a dog for holding the inner guard in position behind the opening in the device, said arm having a cam surface, a cam lug on the plunger for engaging the cam surface and raising the guard as the plunger moves forward to move the forward end of the article into the device, an outer guard member, a pivoted arm on which the outer guard rnernber is mounted, the arm of the outer guard member having a cam slot and a pin carried by the plunger engaged in the cam slot, said cain'slot being so arranged that when the plunger in retracted position,

the outer guard member is held raised, and when the plunger moves forward the outer guard is moved forward into the, opening in the device.

4. In a vending machine of the character described including article delivery means, a device having an opening into which one end of an article is moved, an inner guard member normally closing the opening in the device, an outer guard member, means for moving the inner guard member to permit the article to be moved into the device, said means being operative when the inner guard member is moved to place the outer guard member in front of the device to prevent access to the article in the device until after said means is returned to normal position.

5. Ina vending machine of the character described including a vertically arranged hopper containing the articles to be delivered, a reciprocable plunger having an article delivery means adapted to engage and move forward the lowermost article in the hopper, a device having an opening located opposite the forward end of the lowermost article in the hopper, an inner guard member normally located between the forward end of the article and the opening in the device, means controlled by the plunger as it moves the article forwardly toward the device for moving the inner guard member out of the path of the article, an outer guard member and means controlled by the plunger as it moves the article forwardly for placing the outer guard member in front of the opening in the device to prevent access to the article until after the plunger'returns'to normal position.

6. In a vending machine of the character described including a vertically arranged article containing hopper open at its lower end and a reciprocable plunger carrying an article delivery member adapted to engage and push forward the lowermost article in the hopper, a device having an opening in alinement with the forward end of the lowermost article, an inner guard member normally located between the lowermost article and the opening in the device to prevent access to the article, a pivoted armon which the inner guard member is mounted, said arm havingv a cam surface, a lug on the plunger adapted to engage the. came surface to raise the inner guard memberas the article is moved toward the opening in the device, a spring pressed dog for engaging the arm to hold the guard member behind the opening, a lug on the plunger for disengaging the dog from the arm to permit the guard member to be raised, an outer guard member, a pivoted arm on which the outer guard member is mounted, said second arm having a cam slot, and a pin carried by the plunger engaged in the cam slot, said cam slot being so arranged that when the plunger is in retracted position, the outer guard member is held out of alinement with the opening in the device, and when the plunger is moved forward the outer guard member is placed in front of the device to prevent access into it until afterthe plunger returns to retracted position,

HARVEY GILES. 

